The Writing on the Wall Walk

A self guided tour & activity book for childrenbased on the burgundy plaques/buildings of notable residents of bygone Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells has always attracted famous and interesting people, who have either lived here or visited. This activity book has been based on a pamphlet called “The Writing on the Wall”, which tells the story of the people connected with the commemorative Plaques that we see around the town.

By taking the self guided walk with an adult to visit some of the plaques, and by completing this activity booklet, you will hopefully learn interesting facts about a few of the many fascinating people who have contributed to the success of the town over the years.

Beau Nash - Picture to colour

Junior Crossword

Across:

2. An English general of World War 2, famous for winning the Battle of El Alamein

5. A member of a famous tea family, known for her work with the poor

6. This man started the Boy Scout movement

11. A well known church leader, with links to Holy Trinity, St John's, St James', and St Peter's churches in the town

Down:

1. A former mayor and pioneer in the fields of motoring, electricity and photography

3. A famous queen of England

4. A writer and author of “A Passage to India”

7. A pioneer in aviation, who ran the first aviation business to be owned and run by a woman

8. One of the original makers of the world famous Tunbridge-ware

9. A former Editor of the Sunday Times and The Observer

10.The Master of Ceremonies at the Pantiles in Georgian Tunbridge Wells

9

1 7

3 6

4

2

5 8 10

11

Subbuteo - Picture to colour

To help you complete some of the puzzles in this booklet, here are a few facts about some of the people you may learn about. For instance, did you know that Sir David Salomons (1851-1925), owned one of the first cars in England, and organised the world's first car show here in Tunbridge Wells at what is now Showfields Estate in 1895. He was also one of the first people to install electric lighting in his home, experimented in photography, and even invented an electric iron and sewing machine. Another early photographer of the town, Henry Peach Robinson (1830-1901), became a vice-President of the Royal Photographic Society. The town has always attracted learned people, from Thomas Bayes, a brilliant mathematician, whose work is still used in health research and engineering, to Henry Watson Fowler (1858-1933), who produced the Concise Oxford Dictionary, the Pocket English Dictionary, and A Dictionary of Modern English Usage, all still in use today.

Many of you may be familiar with The Pantiles, where Beau Nash (1674-1761) organised many of the concerts and dances, while banning swearing and setting rules for good behaviour that were to make the town a must see destination for the rich and famous. Entertainment, the arts and literature, has always been an important part of the town's heritage. Edmund Kean (1789-1833) was one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of his day and could be seen at the Tunbridge Wells Theatre, which was at The Pantiles at the time. Richard Cumberland (1732-1811), who lived at the top of Mount Sion, was a writer of many plays, knew Sir Walter Scott and Lord Byron, and has a memorial in Westminster Abbey. E.M.Forster (1879-1970), who wrote “A Passage to India”, and William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), the author of “Vanity Fair”, also lived in Tunbridge Wells for a while. More recently, another writer, Richard Cobb (1917-1996), wrote about his days as a child in the town and went on to become an expert on the French Revolution.

Tunbridge Wells has also attracted some unique and interesting characters. Peter Adolf (1916-1944) was the inventor of Subbuteo, a soccer game. Lord Baden Powell (1857-1941) started the Boy Scout movement. Rachel Beer (1858-1927) became the Editor of The Sunday Times and The Observer, being the first female editor of a major newspaper. Pauline Gower (1910-1947) a flier, set up the first aviation business to be owned and run by women. Amelia Scott (1860-1952) became a leading

Famous residents & Visitors oF tunbridge wells

WW2 Hurricane - Picture to colour

suffragist and reformer, while Eliza Phillips (1822-1916) became a central figure in the Royal Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Louisa Twining (1820-1912), of the famous tea company, championed the poor of the area, becoming the first woman Guardian of the Pembury workhouse (the late Pembury Hospital).

I am sure some of you have heard of the world famous Tunbridge Ware. Humphrey Burrows (1785-1845),Henry Hollamby (1819-1895), and Edmund Nye (1797-1863) are just three of the more famous makers of the intricate objects, typically decorated with pictures and patterns made from small pieces of wood veneer, and found in many antique shops.On a national level, Tunbridge Wells was home to Lord Dowding (1882-1970) who played a major role in winning the Battle of Britain in World War 2, and General Montgomery (1887-1976) the victor of El Alamein, whilst General Elias Durnford (1774-1850) had a strong influence on the development of Canada. Queen Victoria (1819-1901), as a princess was also a frequent visitor to the town, and sponsored the setting up of the Victoria School, designed by Decimus Burton , a building which still exists off Camden Road (although now not a school). Decimus Burton (1800-1881), himself, was responsible for designing many of the beautiful buildings in and around Calverley Park, although we may know him better as the architect of The Temperate House and Palm House at Kew Gardens.

We shouldn't forget Richard Marnock (1800-1889) a garden designer, responsible for Grosvenor and Hilbert Park or Charles Tattershall Dodd (1815-1878), a local artist who painted wonderful landscapes of the area and gave drawing lessons to the French royal family. Tunbridge Wells has many churches, and not surprisingly has attracted some very influential members of the clergy. Canon Edward Hoare (1812-1894) was vicar of Trinity Church, and influential in the building of St James’, St John’s and St Peter’s churches in the town. And last, but not least, there is William Charles Cripps (1855-1952), who helped create the Borough of Tunbridge Wells and became its first Town Clerk. Cripps, a firm of solicitors is still going strong in the town.

I hope you have learned things of interest. Now enjoy the walk, puzzles and games. You never know, one day your name may be added to the list of famous people who have helped to make Tunbridge Wells the great town that it is.

(Please note: “The Writing on the Wall”, by the Royal Tunbridge Wells Civic Society, can be bought from the Society or bookshops within the town, should you wish to find out more details about these and other interesting residents of the town).

Scout Badge - Picture to colour Suffragette Badge - Picture to colour

the Plaques oF tunbridge wells

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27

1001

18

30

02 0514

21

4106

36

13

08

33

(The map below is an extract from The Writing on The Wall pamphlet, and provides a suitable walk for children, which should take approximately one hour, depending on age and ability.)

the hunt For the Plaques oF tunbridge wells

matCh the houses on the next Page to the Plaques below

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Map Number 23The Corn Exchange

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Map Number 2740-42 The Pantiles

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Map Number 011, Warwick Park Hotel

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Map Number 1063a Mount Sion

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Map Number 183, Mount Sion

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Map Number 30Vale Towers, London Road

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Map Number 0568 London Road

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Map Number 0269 London Road

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Map Number 142, Clarence Road

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Map Number 21Holy Trinity Church

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Map Number 41Hotel du Vin, Crescent Road

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Map Number 06Victoria Gate, Calverley Park

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Map Number 364 Lansdowne Road

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Map Number 131, Calverley Park

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Map Number 085a, Grove Hill Gardens

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Map Number 33The Great Hall, Mt Pleasant Rd

A B C D

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Drawn by

CIVIC SOCIETY DISCOVERING TUNBRIDGE WELLS CHILDRENS WORKBOOK

Drawn On

Paul Avis August 2018

S A L O M O N S H O L L A M B Y

L M O N T G O M E R Y I B S I D

O J A G D S F A D S S V C O T M

V B D W S O S L O H O A R E H V

R E L B R S W E S A P N I T A S

B E K S S A U D V H E B P I C D

W R T O D A L S I S E D P Z K R

D E R A J D O L S N M A S B E O

R K O T K B L S A O G T S S R F

M E B D F I S S W U S T K E A N

A E I P P S H A S D L O E E Y R

R L N S A B U R T O N C M N A U

N A S V E O B I A D B S V O M D

O F O K E T E L B D E S K E S O

C M N Z B A D E N P O W E L L S

K O G O W E R S A I R O T C I V

word searCh

Baden PowellBeerBurtonCrippsDoddDowdingDurnford

ForsterGowerHoareHollambyKeanMarnockMontgomery

NashPhillipsRobinsonSalomonsScottThackerayVictoria